ALEX SANDERSON MEDIA SESSION 15/01/2026

RAFFI QUIRKE’S DEPARTURE

“Everyone is still really good friends with Raffi and he has been able to tell the lads his reasons as to why he has made his decisions so no-one has fallen out over what has happened and his decision to go. It is really tough [to lose a player like Quirke] as you put your time and resources into these players. You get the news and it has been weeks in the making for us, and there have been tough conversations but not ones where we have fallen out over. From what I gather he feels like he needs a change, to get out of his comfort zone. This feels like a fresh start for him going to Newcastle and a decision on his part, not a reflection of what we want to do. My understanding is it was something new he wanted to do.

“You are hurt, of course you are hurt. I was invested in him as a person and immediately, in that moment, you feel let down. It isn’t though just that one conversation and not off the back of one throw away comment. They are his reasons, I cannot tell him how to feel, he feels a certain way and I have to respect his decision. It is much more complicated when you are talking about somebody else’s feelings, which ultimately you do not know.

“We wanted to keep him and there were good contract offers on the table but it was not about money. This was about his want and desire for a change of environment to get out of his comfort zone.

“We had contingencies, although I had assumed he would stay. We have a 95% retention rate so we have been pretty good at keeping our own. It is an important position. There is still a long time left of this season to find a replacement or something better. There are good players on the market but they must be way and above better for us to want to recruit ahead of Raffi at that point. I have had a couple of meetings even before Raffi gave us his decision and I will continue to have a couple in the next few weeks. We are still very hard at it, not to say a lot of things haven’t fallen into place, all of which everyone will hear about in good time. Slightly longer than a couple of weeks [when they found out about Raffi’s departure].”

ASHER OPOKU-FORDJOUR’S INJURY

“He will be having an operation to stabilise his shoulder tomorrow [Friday 16^th January] in Cardiff, which essentially puts him out for the next couple of months. Just a contact on the ground last week which destabilised his shoulder, a training injury. He went for a scan and you have to follow medical opinion. It will be a routine operation. It is a real shocker for him, for us and for England. It takes a special kind of person to take on the psychological load of playing international rugby at tighthead prop at 19 or 20 years old anyway. He already has that ability to handle, to reframe, to carry. Some people could go down rabbit holes, but he doesn't. He just gets on with it. He is probably already looking ahead to how strong and fit and physical he is going to be when he comes back. That is the kind of character he is.”

TOMAS FRANCIS SIGNING

“Huge, 80 capper. What a bloke. I did not realise that as I did not really know him. When I got on the phone with him I was blown away by his character, the ambition and drive he has, what he sees in us and he thinks he can help us. The biggest question I have for players over 30 is what is their drive like and he is fully motivated to play some of his best rugby over the next few years and play at the next World Cup.

“They [Francis and fellow new signing Nicky Smith] are good enough to start at international level and arguably the Lions in the case of Nicky Smith, which was touted around at the end of last season. They have 138 international caps between them. We will have the strength in depth, so we will be able to rotate and we do not need to rely so heavily on Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour to start, and they can also impart some of the “dark arts” and knowledge around the scrum. I can see it working out on so many levels and really happy that they are coming on board.”

FURTHER ADDITIONS FOR NEXT SEASON

“I would love to tell you about it, it is eating me away inside. Simon [Orange] would not say that [a post on social media about Sale’s squad for next season] and leave himself open for if it didn't happen. He just wanted to quiet down the naysayers and doubters around the Raffi announcement. For the curious, watch this space. For the concerned, don't worry, we are on top of it. It is a great squad, and it is going to be even better. By the end of the Six Nations I am sure most of the deals will be done.”

LUKE JAMES’ NEW CONTRACT

“It is great especially given the inconsistency of his playing time over the last two or three years due to injury. He is committed, such a good player across the whole backline, almost to his detriment because we know he can play anywhere. Invariably when he is fit he is featuring in our squad. I know the fans are happy and we are over the moon as well.”

HOW AL REFLECTS ON HIS TENURE AT THE CLUB SO FAR

“I am in a really happy spot, revelling in the stress of my position. I am probably never happier than when I have got a challenge. Doing it with your own club, I never thought it would mean as much as it did, coming home to where I and my family are from. I am very proud to be building and continue to build something with this group, with our owners. It feels like a season or two since I arrived, not five years. It still feels fresh and time has gone quickly. I have learnt a lot about myself in the last five years. I have grown by ways of humility, I think I have shed some hubris. I have been tested on my values and principles a lot and I have grown with these lads and learnt from them. I am really grateful for that. I am loving it and still feel the best is yet to come.”

OTHER NEWS

“Understand the necessity of silence” when it comes to talking about recruitment going forward, “the more white noise the more detrimental it is to players who haven’t actually signed or still deciding and that has shown in recent announcements”

Phil Morrow and Lee Blackett were at the training ground on Tuesday and members of the England medical team keeping an eye on England players

Scotland keeping close eye on Gus Warr and Arron Reed

Discussions ongoing as to Byron McGuigan’s role with England going forward, no decision made